Fington



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. R. BUFFI'NG'TON 8v W. OROZIER.

GUN MOUNTING.

m 61H 011N110 v gmva'vl/tow (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. R. BUFPINGTON 8v W. OROZIER.

GUN MOUNTING.

Patented Feb. 25, 1896'.

WW I Lewes (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 A. R. BUFFINGTON & W. CRUZIER.

GUN MOUNTING.

0. 6 t w W 1 6 w W P y d Lwx n e t a P\ w vfmeoa (No M odeL) 5 Shets-Sheet 4.

A. R. BUFFINGTON & W. GROZIER.

GUN MOUNTING.

Patented Feb. .25, 1896.

ltillllllllg lmll 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 A R. BUFFINGTON 85 W. GROZIER.

GUN MOUNTING.

No. 555,425. Patented Feb. 25, 1896.

(No Model.)

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I, 4.060 LLaaLU( attoznmr and useful UNITED STATES ATENT' MICE ADELBERT R. BUFFINGTON AND JWIILLIAM CROZIER, on THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

GUN-MOUNTING.

SPECIFICATIONfQrming part of Letters Patent No. 555,426 dated February 25, 1896. 3

Application filed llctober a, 1894.

Serial No. 525,314. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that We, ADELBERT R. BUF- FINGTON, an officer of the Army of the United States, stationed at Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, and WILLIAM CRozIER, an oflicer of the Army of the United States, stationed at New York city, New York, have invented a new Improvement in Gun-Mountings, of which the following isa specification sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same; and we hereby dedicate to the Government of the United States the free right to use, to make, and to have made in the United States for its own use gunmountings. embodying this invention.

Our invention relates more particularly to that class of gun-mountings in which the'discharge of the gun or piece causes it to recoil to a position of safety, and which are generally termed disappearing guns, and its objects are to provide simple and eflicient means for controlling and guiding such recoil and for returning the gun or piece at will to the firing position; and our invention consists in the various features of construction, arrangement of parts, and mode of operation substantially ashereinafter more pa rtic ularl y pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings we have illustrated a preferred embodiment of our invention and several modifications thereof suflicient to explain the principles of I the invention, and in said drawings Figure 1 is a side View of a mounting. Fig. 2 is a front end-view. Fig. 3 is a rear end view. Fig. 4 is a partial side view, showing a modification. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section of one form of counterweight.- Fig.

. G is a side view, partly in section, of another modification. the same. invention, but clearly illustrating the position of the parts when the gun is'in firing in dotted lines illustrating the position of the gun in recoil; and Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the position of the gun and the parts connected therewith at the recoil of the gun.

lleretofore many attempts have been made to produce a practically-working disappear- Fig. 8 is aside view showing the ing gun adapted for heavy ordnance, and

Fig. 7 is a partial end view of some of the details being omitted,

position, and

without attempting to recite the many and various constructions which have been suggested and the objections thereto, or the requirements necessary to the successful and practical working of such a mounting, we may say that it is the object of our present invention to improve upon such gun-mountings, and to provide a mountingwhich is simple'in construction, not liable to get out of order,which is rapid and efficient in operation, and which meetsiall the requirements of a thoroughly practical disappearing-gun mounting.

One of the main features of our invention consists in so arranging the parts of the mounting that the pivotal point or trunnions of the gun shall move in the arc during its recoil and return to 'firing position;

Another feature of our invention consists in so arranging and constructing the parts that while the-pivotalpoint of the gun or piece moves in the arc of an ellipse the breech of the gun will move in thear'c of a circle.

Another distinguishing feature of our in-' vention consists in so constructing and arof an ellipse ranging the mounting that the muzzle of the gun in its recoil shall have a motion which is best adapted for retiring the gun from above a parapet or similar device, such motion being of a unique character, comprising a movement in a sinuous or ogee line, ending in a quick downward curve at about right angles to said sinuous line.

These general features of our invention, as well as those hereinafter set forth, may be used together or in connection with other constructions embodying other features of our invention or equivalents thereof.

While our invention comprehends broadly any construction and arrangement of parts whereby the general features thereof may be carried out or utilized, it also comprises certain general features of construction and arrangement of parts, as well as certain specific features hereinafter more particularly pointed out, and while we will now proceed to describe, with reference tothe accompanying drawings, the means which we prefer to employ in accomplishing the objects of .our invention, it will be understood that the infeatures of construction are not limited to the' specific arrangement set forth, as they may all be varied by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. We provide a carriage A, which may be of any suitable construction and arrangement, according to the particular requirements of any particular case, and support upon the carriage what we have termed a rotating lever or levers B, which leveror levers support at their upper ends the gun or piece C,the gun being pivotally mounted in said levers by trunnions O, or any other equivalent construction or arrangement, so that the pivotal point of the gun shall be at. the end of the levers;

It may be remarked at this point thatwhile a single lever might be arranged, with forked arms or othewise, or the parts united so asto constitute what would ordinarily be termed a single lever, we have shown the lever made of two complementary parts and shall refer to these hereinafter as levers, with the understanding'that this term includes any equivalent construction which will -operate insubstantially the same way, as will be hereinafter pointed out with reference to the levers."

These levers are provided'near their middle points with an axle or trunnions B, or equiva lent means for supporting the levers, and this axle is amoving axle, the movements of which 'are constrained substantially in the manner hereinafter set forth.

The lower ends of the rotating levers are also preferablyconnected to a cross-bar B or equivalent construction,

and the movements of this end of the lever are also constrained, as hereinafter set forth.

It will thus be seen'that the gun is mounted upon rotating levers having two of their points constrained to move in respect to, each other, while another point at the free ends of the levers supports the gun, and the arrangement is such that this latter point of the levers moves in the arc of an ellipse. Thus the levers may be said to have three axes and no fixed points, the levers moving as a whole, the movement being constrained at two points on lines at an angle to each other.

of the rotating levers may be used in carrying out the broad principles of our invention, it'being suflicient that the leversshall be so restrained that these points shall move 'upon lines makin an angle with each other which will result ii causing the other or free point of the levers to move in the arc of arr-ellipse, or substantially so.

' Thus, referring to Fig. 1, the axle or trunnions B nearthe central portion of the le versis supported in a top carriage D, which is mounted upon the chassis-pieces of the main carriage A,'andis adapted to move horizon tally thereon-, either the chassis, as shown in Fig. l, or the carriage, as shown in Fig. 4, being provided with friction-rolls a b or equiva lent devices. This carriage is connected to some sort of a restraining device-such, for

instance, as springs, hydraulic cylinders, and

the 'like-and we have shown in Fig. 1 a hydraulic cylinder 'E arranged on each side of the carriage, which cylinders are provided with pistons E, connected by piston-rods E? to projections A on the main carriageA. In 7 5 the present instance the rods E are provided throughout their length with holes c which are connected at their front ends by pipes 6 with the reserv0irE these pipes being provided with a non-return valve e and by-pass valves e. 1 I

It will be understood that instead of the specific arrangement of cylinders just described any other equivalent and well-known construction and arrangeme'ntmay be used,

and instead of the cylinders being attached to the top carriage the pistons may be attached to the carriage and the cylinders to the main carriage. The rods may be attached to project-ions at the rear ends of the chassispieces instead of at the forward ends, so that during the recoil they will push into the hydraulic cylinders instead of pulling out. The cylinders may also be fixed at the rear of the chassis and the rods attached to the trunnions or axle of the rotating lever. The hydraulic cylinders may be bolted vertically to the under side of the'racer of the turn-table, as describedhereinafter, or there may be a single hydraulic cylinder connected to the bottom of the counterweight, as also described hereinafter, or any other equivalent and wellknown restraining device, which may also act as a recuperator, may housed in place of the specific construction and arrangement of cylinders above set forth.

' It will thus be seen that the top carriage D is arranged to 'move in a substantially horizontal plane on the chassis of the main plat form'and its movements are controlled by 11o some sort of a restrainingdevice,-'and it may be said to constitutea moving fulcrum for the rotating levers. j'

The lower end of the levers is also constrained to move in'a plane at an angle to the planeof the movement of the top carriage,

and this plane is shown as practically at right I Various means for restrainin g the two points angles thereto, being a vertical plane, and the end of the levers is connected by a cross-bar,

as beforestated, which is arranged to move in the vertical cross-head guides F, formed or 'arranged at thefrontend of the carriage A.

fulcrum being stationary, and the pivotal point or cross bar or head of the lever operating therewith moving in relation thereto.

The counterweight which is to'aid in taking up the recoil and act in returning the gun so thatr25 direction.

to firing position is connected to thismoving endof the levers in any suitable way, so that the force exerted on the counterweight will be in a vertical direction, and of course the counterweight will Thus we have shown the counterweight G as connected to the cross-head B by I-rods G'. The counterweight may be of any suitable construction, preferably being made up of a certain number of plates or weights 9-, which are supported on the Ibolts G, and may be arranged. in a pit under the turn-table or in any other convenient position.

It is sometimes desirable to arrange the hydraulic cylinder or cylinders on the under side of the racer of the turn-table, asshown' by the counter- Q weight and extends into the same pit, the pisin Fig. 4, so that it is inclosed ton-rods passing through slots in the chassispieces and'being connected to the top carriage by any suitable means,

well, as shown in Fig. 5, and cross-bar of the levers and j unction with the counterweight. In some instances the counterweight may be omitted and replaced by recuperator-sprin'gs or other equivalent devices, as indicated in Figs. 6 and 7, where the springs H are arranged upon rods H, which pass through a bar H connecting the levers, the rods being supported .at the lower ends in a pivoted support fl mounted on brackets a on the main carriage; These springs assume the position shown in dotted of the gun are controlled.

WVith this arrangement there may be used a single hydraulic cylinder, as E, Fig. 7, supported in the brackets, and the rods on which the springs H are mounted may be attached to a cross-head E of the cylinder, while the piston-rod E of the cylinderis attached to the crossbar H of the levers. described and illustrated several typical constructions of the restraining devices, and it will'be understood that these may be used in any desired combination, or bther equivalent and well-known devices may be used in connection with the rotating levers to perform the functionsstated, our invention not involving the use of any specific construction and arrangement of cylinders or springs or the like.

So far, we have-referred but slightly to the connections with the breech of the gun by which the'motions of v the breech and muzzle two elevating-rods I attached to journals near the breech of the gun, and their lower ends are mounted in blocks 1 moving in and sup,- ported by the curved rails J, which are attached to the chassis. The curve of these rails corresponds to a radius equal to .the length of the lever, with the center at the center of the breech-trunnion when the gun is in its depressed or loading position. (Shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.) The gun is, therefore, down on its bed and there is no strain exert its force in the same the curved rails.

or the cylinder may be secured to-the bottom of the pit or connected to the j be used in con-,

lnes in Fig. 6 upon the recoil of the gun- We have thus We have shown-- whatever on these levers, and the blocks can the gun can be aimed for altitude while in its by adjusting the blocks on depressed position It will be seen that the breechof the gun,

being connected and controlled by the elevating-rods, will move in the are of a circle, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig.1, notwithstanding the fact that the pivotal point or trunnions of the gun moves in the arc of an ellipse. This arrangement of devicesthat is, moving the. pivotal point of the gun in the arc of an ellipse and the breech in the are of a circle-produces a peculiar and unique motion .of' the muzzle of the gun, so

that it is 'well adapted to quickly retirefrom above the parapet or other defense and be projected into firing position. Thus it will be seen on reference to Fig. 4' that as the gun commences to recoil the muzzle is depressed slightly, following dotted lines,) and then rises central line, as "at-mi, and in a straight line for a short distance-when it is curved quickly downward, as at 00 to its final position below the opening in the parapet; This enables the gun to be used in close quarters and to be exposed to the opening the shortest possible time, and the ad vantages of this'arrangement whereby this motion is produced will be readily appreciated by those skilledu'n'the art. v

In order that the gun may be held in its recoil positi'on,we provide pawls K or some other' locking means, which insure the gun remaining stationary during again above its formed on the clips'b The inner front edges the process of loadingand sighting or otherwise, and these pawls, engage in the present'instancewith ratchetsthe curve w, (indicated in moves practically of the cross-head guide F may be provided with projections or teeth f, bymeans of which, by the -use-of a bar or otherwise, the gun can be forced to the'eoinplete recoil position, if perchance the discharge does not produce this effect.

A crane L may be attached to the carriage for supporting the projectile, or any other arrangement for loading the gun may be used.

Sometimes it is desirable to lower the gun into loading position for the purpose of cleaning or for drill, and we provide an arrange-' ment by which this may be readily accomplished by attaching pulley-blocks M to the breech-trunnions and mounting a Windlass M in the carriage which may be operated by a handle M and this shaft may be provided with a worm m, which gears with-a worm-wheel m, mounted on a short shaft 122*, supported on the carriage, and having also mounted on the shaft on a transverse shaft M a sprocket-wheel N, and over this sprocketthe ends of which wheel may pass a chain N, are fixed so that the gun may be pointed in azimuth.

The carriage may be mounted in any suitable way, it being shown in Fig. 1 as mounted on a turn-table P, of the usual construction,- with the counterweight underneath, and the rear portion being mounted on traversewheels P, and it will thus be seen that the carriage can be readily adjusted by operating construction and arrangement of a gun for any particular or desired purpose, and the operation will be apparent fromwhat we have before set forth, and need not be stated in detail. gun isin the elevated position (shown in full lines in Fig. .1) and the piece is discharged the rotating lever moves in the manner before stated, its axis B moving rearward in a horizontal line on the chassis, and its end or cross-bar B moving upward in the guides, andv these two points being constrained in this manner the result is that the upper ends of the levers to which the gun is pivoted move to the rear and downward in the arc of'an ellipse, While the breech-piece, beingguided by the elevating-rods, downward in the are of a circle. The muzzle of. the gun, from this combination of mechanism, describesa proper curve for clearing the parapet, as heretofore described, and it will be seen that the breech is always brought to the same position for loading, being controlled by the elevating-rods. When in its depressed condition, the pawls will engage the ratchets to secure it and hold the gun until it is desired to discharge it, or otherwise elevate it, and it can be sighted both for altitude and azimuth while in it's depressed position. The

energy of the recoil of the falling gun is absorbed partly in raising thecounterweight and partly by the resistance of the liquid-in the hydraulic cylinders, and the flow of the liquid in these cylinders can, of course, be

controlled and regulated in any of the wellknown ways by adjusting the parts or valves .so as to produce an approximately constant force. It will also be understood that even if the piece does not recoil to its-full depressed position the check-valves connected with the hydraulic cylinders will prevent the piece rising and will retain it in any position which it may have reached, and it can be forced downward by bars or otherwise, if necessary. Upon opening the b'y-pass valves and tripping the pawls when they engage the ratchets 'raise the gun to the a gun,

connecting the gun'to the carriage, said means I general It will be understood that when the moves rearward and the preponderance of the'counterweight will firing position. What we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

'1. The combination with a gun-carriage, of and means substantially as described being constrained to move with the gun in the arc of an ellipse at the point where they are attached to the gun, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the gun-carriage, of a gun, means substantially as described connecting the pivotal point of the gun to the carriage, said means being constrained to move with the gun in the arc of an ellipse at the point where they are attached to the gun, and means connecting the breech of the gun to the carriage, said means being constrained tp movewith the gun in the arc of a circle at the point where they are attached to the gun, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a gun-carriage, of

a gun, means connecting the pivotal point of the gun to the carriage, and means connecting the breech of the gun to the carriage, the said means being constrained substantially as described so that the pivotal point of the gun will move in the arc of an ellipse, the breech of the gun will move in the arc of a circle and the muzzle of the gun will move in a sinuous line and then in a downward curve during the recoil of the gun from firing position, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a gun-carriage, of a gun,.means substantially as described connecting the gun to the carriage, said means being constrained to move with the gun in the arc of an ellipse at the point where they are attached to the gun, and a counterweight connected to said means and moving in a vertical direction on the recoil and return of the gun to its firing position, substantially as de-' scribed.

5. The combination with a gun-carriage, of a gun, and rotating levers connecting the gun and carriage, the said levers having two of their points constrained to move respectively upon two lines making an angle with each other, whereby the point of connection between the levers and gun will move in the arc of an ellipse, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a gun-carriage, of a gun, and rotating levers connecting the gun to the carriage, said rotating levers having three axes and no fixed points, the levers moving as a whole and being constrained at two points to move with the gun in the arc of an ellipse at the point where the levers are at tached to the gun, substantially as describe v 7. The combination with a gun-carriage, of a gun, and rotating levers connecting the gun to the carriage, the said levers having two of their points constrained, one to move in a horizontal direction, andthe other to move in a vertical direction,while their ends connected with the gun move in the arc of an ellipse, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a gun-carriage, of a gun, and rotating levers connecting the gun with the carriage, the levers being provided with a moving pivotal point near their central portion mounted on the top of the carriage and being constrained to move in a substantially horizontal direction, and the lower ends of the levers being guidedin vertical guides in the carriage, whereby the levers are constrained to'move upon two lines making an angle with each other, while their points of connection with the gun move in the arc of an ellipse, substantially as described.

9. In a gun-mounting,the combination with the carriage and gun, of rotating levers pivotally mounted on a moving fulcrum on the carriage and having one end mounted to slide in guides on the carriage, the other end being free and supporting the gun, substantially as described.

i 10. In a gun-mounting, the combination with the carriage and gun, of rotating levers connecting the gun and carriage and having two of their points constrained to move respectively upon two lines making an angle with each other, hydraulic cylinders connected to one of the points for constraining its movement, and a counterweight connected at the other point to constrain itsmovement,

substantially as described.

1].. In a gun-mounting, the combination with the carriage and gun, of rotating levers connected to the pivotal point of the gun and constrained at two points to move respectively upon two lines making an angle with each other, and elevating rods connecting the breech of the gun with the carriage, the arrangement being such that the pivotal point 40 of the gun moves in the arc of an ellipse and the breech of the un moves in the arc of a circle, and the muzzle moves in a sinuous curve on recoil, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of the subscribing witnesses.

ADELBERT R; BUFFINGTON. WILLIAM OROZIER.

IVitnesses as to the signature of Adelbert R. Bufiington:

O. J. BROWN, GEo. D. DARWIN. 

